The disgraced Cornell University student who went viral for refusing to interview with a New York City startup because he said he didn’t want to “work for a Jew” claims he will return to the Ivy League’s upstate campus in the fall.
Austin Franco, 19, the young up-and-comer who delivered the message to VrfID’s Jewish co-founders Gabe and Aiden Einhorn via the job board website Handshake in June, Tell Accuracy in conservative nonprofit media He barely got a slap on the wrist from Cornell.
“So far, they’ve said there’s nothing going on in their background. I think it’s because I haven’t said anything that could be classified as hate,” Franco inadvertently confided to an “undercover investigator” for the organization, who lured him into a meeting by pretending to be a fellow anti-Semite.
He said the school contacted him after the controversy, but no action was taken against him.
A Cornell University spokesperson referred The Post to the school’s previous statement, but declined to comment on Franco’s claim that he would return to campus.
“This incident has been referred to the Cornell Office for Civil Rights for investigation under university policy,” a Cornell spokeswoman said.
“Cornell condemns anti-Semitism and all forms of hatred and discrimination in the strongest possible terms. The university is steadfastly committed to fostering a safe, inclusive, and respectful environment for every member of our community.”
Cornell’s lackluster response sparked outrage among Jewish students and leaders.
Rabbi Mark Schneier, founding chief rabbi of the Hampton Synagogue and president of the Foundation for Racial Understanding, told The Washington Post that this reflects how alarmingly “normalized” anti-Semitism has become.
“Cornell is a place of learning, and yet a student can openly declare that he will not work for a Jew, impose his own boycott and still sit in its classrooms,” Schneier said.
“I refuse to believe that any other form of intolerance, whether racial or religious, will be treated with such tolerance.”
Davian Geekman, a student at Cornell University who will graduate in 2027, called Franco “the worst ever.”
He said, “Freedom of expression does not mean freedom from consequences. If the school administration is unable to do anything, it is the responsibility of the agencies to do so.”
In the clip posted Wednesday on X by Accuracy in Media, Franco admitted that his obnoxious way of declining the interview wasn’t “the smartest thing to say.”
“But the reaction was overwhelming,” he said. “It’s not worth what I said.”
“I mean I thought I was being cute. Saying that is why I don’t want to work for you.”
He also confirmed that he has raised about $25,000 in donations from his quirky supporters.
Franco, who hails from Virginia, described anti-Semitism as “very prevalent among the younger generation” as he blamed the select people for their struggle for employment.
“This is the problem I have,” he said. “I’m going to Cornell. I’m applying for all these jobs. And the only thing I’m getting is unpaid internships to work for Jews. Yes, pretty much only Jews actually.”
“The company I used to work for was also run by a Jew. Yes, that’s why I was fired.”
Franco was working the kosher station in Cornell University’s dining hall, according to students familiar with the situation.
Franco Written on X He met Accuracy in Media because they claimed to be a group that wanted to offer him financial support and job opportunities after graduation.
“It’s sad that they were deceitful,” he grumbled.
Franco did not immediately respond to a request for comment.